Introduction: Obesity is the best established and most potentially modifiable risk factor in the development of UI.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of urinary incontinence, the impact in quality of life and investigate potential risk factors in female patients with indication for bariatric surgery. Methods: This is a cross sectional study with female patients with obesity. Urinary symptoms were assessed based on results of the quality of life questionnaires- “International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form' (ICIQ-SF). Anthropometric data, bioimpedance results, and medical history were obtained from the medical records. A Poisson regression was performed to identify independent risk factors related to urinary incontinence.

Results:A total of 218 patients were enroled, One hundred and fifteen patients (52.7%) reported UI episodes. Mixed urinary incotinence was reported by 53% of the patients, 33.9% presented with SUI only and 13% with IUU only. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients according to urinary incontinence status are described in Table1. A multivariate analysis was realized to identify independent risk factors related to urinary incontinence. After adjustment, the following factors were associated with UI: vaginal delivery (p = 0.044) and menopause (p = 0.031). Women who had vaginal birth had a 47% increase in UI prevalence, while those who entered the menopause had a 34% increase. Smoking, excess weight and having performed both vaginal and cesarean delivery were borderline after adjustment.. The mean score of ICI-SF was 9.36 ± 4.9. The severity of the symptoms was considered moderate in 48.7% of the patients. Forty percent of the patients leaks urine once or day or more. The majority of them consider they leak a small amount of urine.

Conclusions:Urinary incontinence impacts negatively on the quality of life and the prevalence is high in patients with obesity. In this study, vaginal delivery and menopause were independently associated with a higher prevalence of UI.